Motor vehicle heating system



Jan. 9, 1934. H. s. COLBY 1,943,108

MOTOR VEHICLE HEATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 2a, 1928 fix ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES MOTOR VEHICLE HEATING SYSTEMHaldwell S. Colby, Wcllsville, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1928 Serial No. 328,542

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to heating arrangements for automobilesand the like, and has particular reference to heating'systems for motorbusses and motor railway cars.

Heating systems of this type utilize the heat of the exhaust gases fromthe engine, but have the disadvantage that the large sulfur content ofthe exhaust gases corrodes the heating pipes, thus permitting leakage ofexhaust gases into the bus and necessitating replacement of the piping.In addition, carbon accumulates within the piping, and must be removedby periodic dismantling and cleaning of the piping sections. Themaintenance charge for a heating system of this type has therefore beenhigh.

One object of the present invention is to provide a heating system whichwill effectively eliminate leakage of exhaust gases into the bus.

Another object is to provide a construction which will not requireperiodic dismantling and cleaning of the piping sections.

Still another object is the use of a simple, efiective heating systemwhich will be strong and sturdy and will withstand the stresses andshocks incident to bus service.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawing showing a plan view of a preferred arrangement ofthe system.

The motor bus A has the usual chairs 5 therein, indicated in the drawingby means of dotted lines. Beneath each chair 5 is a heating coil 6,having heat-radiating fins 7, and receiving heated air from a commonsupply main 8 through individual inlet conduits 9. Each heating coil 6has an outlet 10 exhausting to the atmosphere, but may in certain cases,exhaust into a conduit leading to the air intake of the engine.

Air is conducted to the supply main 8 from a cone-shaped receiver 11,preferably stationed in rear of the bus radiator and the radiator fan18, through a conduit 12, and through an air heater 13 of the continuousregenerative type. The exhaust gases from the engine pass throughexhaust pipe 14, and through the preheater 13 into outlet conduit 15 tothe atmosphere, or to the usual muiiier.

While the rotor 16 of the heater 13 may be operatively connected to theengine shaft if desired, a small impeller 17 is preferably installed inexhaust pipe 14, and rotates the rotor 16 in any desired manner, suchas, for example shown in Fig. 4 of U. S. Patent No. 1,638,539. Any otheroperating mechanism of well known type for slowly turning the rotor 16may be used.

The described and illustrated arrangement possesses very importantadvantages. The rotating air heater occupies but little room, is lightin weight, is easily kept clean, and readily withstands the constantvibration and the expansion and contraction which it is subjected toduring operation. Although an additional fan in the heater casing or inthe conduit 12 may be used to force air through the system, the enginefan will produce a good circulation of air in the illustratedarrangement.

The dissipation of the exhaust gas energy in a heater of the describedtype, due to rotor resistance, force expended in driving the impeller,and reduction of the temperature and volume of the exhaust gases byabsorption of heat, reduces the need for a mufiler which can thereforebe advantageously omitted.

I claim:

1. In a motor-driven vehicle, an internal combustion driving engine, apassenger body, radiators in said passenger body, a regenerative heatexchanger comprising a rotor, means for selectively passing hot exhaustgases from the driving motor through the rotor, and for passing airthrough the rotor to be heated, means for conducting the heated air fromsaid rotor to said radiators, and means driven by said exhaust gases forrotating said rotor.

2. In a motor driven vehicle, an internal combustion driving engine, apassenger body, radiators in said passenger body, a regenerative heatexchanger including a rotor, a conduit for passing hot exhaust gasesfrom the driving motor to the heat exchanger, a conduit for passingcooled exhaust gases from the heat exchanger to the atmosphere, aconduit for passing air to be heated to the heat exchanger, conduitmeans for passing heated air from the heat exchanger to the radiators, aturbine positioned in the hot exhaust gas conduit, and gearingoperatively connecting said turbine to said rotor.

3. In a motor driven vehicle, an internal combustion driving engine, apassenger body, radiators in said passenger body, a regenerative heatexchanger including a rotor, a conduit for passing hot exhaust gasesfrom the driving motor to the heat exchanger, a conduit for passingcooled exhaust gases from the heat exchanger to the atmosphere, aconduit for passing air to be heated to the heat exchanger, conduitmeans for passing heated air from the heat exchanger to the radiators, aturbine positioned in the hot exhaust gas conduit, gearing operativelyconnecting said turbine to said rotor, and a fan operatively connectedto said engine and positioned in proximity to the entrance of theconduit for passing air to be heated to the heat exchanger.

HALDWELL S. COLBY.

